Sept 2 (Reuters) - A consortium led by Blackstone

is nearing a deal to acquire Australian data centre group

AirTrunk for A$20 billion ($13.53 billion) including debt, a

person with knowledge of the situation said on Monday.

Blackstone and its partner, the Canada Pension Plan

Investment Board (CPPIB), emerged as the preferred buyer for

AirTrunk, after outbidding a rival investor group, the person

said, declining to be named as the information was private.

The deal could be announced in the coming days, the person

said.

Bloomberg first reported the news on Monday, adding that

AirTrunk owners Macquarie Group ( MCQEF ) and Canada's Public

Sector Pension Investment Board are negotiating final details of

a transaction.

Blackstone and CPPIB declined to comment, while AirTrunk,

Macquarie and PSP did not immediately respond to Reuters'

requests for comment.

Reuters reported last week that two bidding groups led by

Blackstone and IFM Investors lodged final offers on Tuesday to

buy AirTrunk.

The IFM-led consortium consists of DigitalBridge, GIP,

Mubadala's MGX and Silver Lake.

Macquarie and PSP own 88% of the data centre business but

have not disclosed their individual stakes.

($1 = 1.4782 Australian dollars)